ADHD Treatment Disparities Plague Young Adults, Study Reveals
ADHD affects up to one in 14 children (7%) and up to one in 20 adults (5%), with symptoms including patterns of hyperactivity, impulsivity, or inattention which interfere with functioning in daily life. JULIEN VIKEN VIA…
ADHD affects up to one in 14 children (7%) and up to one in 20 adults (5%), with symptoms including patterns of hyperactivity, impulsivity, or inattention which interfere with functioning in daily life. JULIEN VIKEN VIA PEXELS.
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Young adults are being let down by a “postcode lottery” for ADHD treatment, according to a new study.
Researchers found a “huge” variation in care for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients in a nationwide survey.
They say their findings, published in the British Journal of General Practice, highlight the “struggle” many young adults face once they turn 18.
The University of Exeter research team warned that the current system is “failing” many young adults as they transition from children’s to adult’s services, suddenly finding themselves unable to access treatment because services do not link up effectively.
More than 750 people – including commissioners, health professionals working in primary care, and people with ADHD – completed the MAP National Survey, which highlights challenges that GPs face when prescribing medication for the debilitating condition.
ADHD affects up to one in 14 children (7%) and up to one in 20 adults (5%), with symptoms including patterns of hyperactivity, impulsivity, or inattention which interfere with functioning in daily life.
Experts say that failure to treat ADHD and gaps in treatment, especially as young people become adults, can have “severe” impacts on patients and families, increasing the risk of mental health crises and difficulties with work, education, and relationships.
According to the research team, the failure also places extra pressure on those working in health services.
The survey found variations in “shared care” agreements between GPs, mental health specialists, and patients, which need to be in place for GPs to prescribe ADHD medications.
